Combination iron and ruffler



Jan. 12, 1943. T. w. SHAW 2,308,314

COMBINATION IRON AND RUFFLER File'd Sept. 12, 1940 Z /5) P I INVENTOR.

JTTOZAIE'Y Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT ornea 2,308,314 COMBINATION IRON AND RUFFLER Thomas W.-Shaw', Chestnut Hill, Pa. 7 Application September 12, 1940, Serial No. 356,418

Claims, (01. 223-36) The present invention has in view, as its foremost objective, -the provision of a combination iron and rufller. 1

The formation of ruflles in garments has always been a matter of considerable diftlculty, both at the time of initial manufacture of the garment and subsequent to each laundering thereof; The present invention proposes to substantially reduce, if not entirely obviate, this dimculty by providing a fiatiron with a -rufliing plate the edge of which cooperates with the fiatiron to form rufiies.

When a garment is being pressed, as is the custom after each washing thereof, the ordinary fiatironing surface is needed, and there are only certain intervals when the functions of the ruming plate are required. Accordingly a further object of the invention is the provision of a combination flatiron and ruiller in which the milling plate may be normally held in an out-ofthe-way ineffective position that does not interfere with the normal use of the iron. However, provision is made to lower the ruflling plate into effective position as occasion demands.

The present invention is based on the dis-:

covery that ruffles may be nicely formed in garments by the cooperation of an ironing surface and an edge that projects slightly therebeneath atone side thereof. Accordingly, a further more detailed object of the invention is the provision of a combination iron and ruflier'in which the edge of the miller plate is disposed at one side of the ironing surface.

Still more in detail the invention has, as an object, the provision of a combination iron and .ruiller in which the miller plate is disposed at one side of the nose of the iron..

Particular objects and advantages of the invention are tied up with the manner in which the miller is mounted on the iron, and also with the provision of mechanism for causing the rais-- ing and lowering of the miller plate. These will in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated, as the description of the invention proceeds. v The invention, therefore, comprises a combination iron and ruilier in which a rufiiing plate is located at oneside of the nose of the iron and is provided with mechanism for raising the same in an out-of-the-way ineffective position, and which mechanism may be operated to lower the miller plate into effective position in which the edge projects below the ironing surface.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing,-

wherein c ,1.

Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of a combination iron and ruiiier made in accordance with'the precepts of this invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary'view partly in section and partly in elevation, taken on a plane normal to the showingof Figural, .q

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed perspective of the miller blade per se, I Figure 4 is a similar perspective of the guide structure 'on which the miller is mountecL-and,

Figure 5 is still another perspective of the, op- I erating member and associated cam. 1

In view of the present day'widespread use of the electric-iron the present invention lSxShOWIl as incorporated in a conventional electriciron; Itis to be understood, however, that this-is intended to hem limitation on the invention.

Referring now to the :drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, an electric iron is shown in Figure 1 and referred to in its entirety b'y'thereference characterE.

The iron E is shown as including -'a sole llthat provides an ironing surface at H. Extending above the sole [0 is a casing [2 which houses the electrical heating elementsr The iron 'Eis shown as provided with the usual socket at I! for plugging in with the source of current,- and the conventional handle'is shown at ll.

Referring for the'moment more-particularly to Figure .4, the guide structure for thexruiiier attachment of thisinvention is shown as comprising a bracket member referred to in its en- I tirety by the reference character B. This bracket B includes a base is formed with openings 16.. Upstandihg' from the base ii, at one side thereof,

is a guide bar I! which terminates atthe lower, end in shoulders l8. Spaced from the guidebar II by blocks'shown at I9 is an upstanding plate 2li'that issubstantially' parallel to the guide bar H. The members I! and 20 are formed with pivot member'23 isadapted topass. I

I6 into threaded sockets within the sole I ll .(dotted aligned openings 2| and-=22 through which a t lines, Figure 2) and thus securely anchor the bracket 3 in position. It will be noted that the casing I2 is cut away, as shown at 21, to accommodate the upstanding structure of the bracket B.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, the miller plate is designated P. This plate P is formed with a lower ruining edge at 28 of a proper degree of sharpness, and it will be noted that the plate P is reduced in extent towards the top to provide a reduced upper extension 2!. A pair of side spacing members 20 and SI are secured to one face of the extension 2!, and are spaced apart to define a channel 32. This channel 32 is closed by a substantially rectangularly shaped plate 33 that is cut away centrally to providethe central recess ll.

It is notable that the reduced extension 29, spaces 30 and ii and plate 33 define a guideway whichreceives the guide bar l1. when the plate P is positioned with'this guide bar I'I received in the channel 32 the plate 311s disposed between members i1 and 20, as shown in Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 5, an operating member is shown in the form of a handle element 35 that is provided at the bottom with an opening 36 through which the pivot pin 23 is adapted to pass. Immediatelyadjacent that portion of the handle 35 formed with the opening 86 is a cam member 31 that is formed with an opening in alignment with the opening 3|. This'cam' member projects into the opening 34 of the plate 33, and the cam surfaces of the member 31 are designed to effectively engage the surfaces of the opening 34 to cause upward or downward movement of the plate P.

Whenthe iron is to be used in the normal manner in which a flatiron is used the handle 35 assumes the dotted line position of Figure 1, in

which event the plate P also assumes the dotted line position of Figure 1, and in which position the edge" 28 is disposed above the ironing sur face H. Thus it is in an out-of-the-way ineffective position which in no way interferes with the conventionaluse of the iron. H

However, when the operator is desirous of forming ruilles .the handle 35 is raised into the full line-position of Figure 1.: As this operating member 36 swings about the pivot pin 23 the cam 31 is rotated, and the cam surfaces thereof engaging with the surfaces of the-cut-out ll of plate 33 move the plate P downwardly into the full line position of Figure 1. In this position it is notable the edge 28 of the miller plate P is disposed below the ironing surface I I.

The operator now grasps the handle H in his right hand, and with his left hand grasps loosely one edge of the garment in which the ruiiles are to be formed. He now moves the iron in a sidewise direction away from the left hand while guiding the portion of the garment with the left hand. The ironing surface ll first. causes a pressing of the-fabric, but the edge 20 bites into the fabric and pulls it thru the'left hand to cause gatherings that form the mines in the fabric.

In the illustrated-embodiment of the invmtion the combination'iron and rufiler are shown as designed for use by a right-handed person: that is it is intended that the iron be grasped by the person's right hand, and the garment in which the rumes are being formed by the user's left hand. However, it is obvious that the combination iron asoasm and ruiiier could be designed for use by left- While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth it is .to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an electric iron including a sole having an ironing surface, and a casing disposed above said sole, a bracket anchored to said sole and projecting through said casing, and a.

miller plate movably mounted on said bracket to elevate one portion of said ironing surface from,

its normal horizontal plane while leaving another portion of said ironing surface in said normal horizontal plane. I

2. In combination, an electric iron including a sole having an ironing surfaceformed with a nose, a bracket anchored to said sole atone side of said nose, a miller plateslidably' mounted on said bracket and conforming in shape to the shape of said nose, said rufller plate being. positioned at one side of said nose and inclose con tact therewith adjacent an edge .of said ironing surface, said ruilier platehaving'an edge that is adapted to be disposed beneath said ironing surface, and means for moving said plate into and out of position in which said edge is below said ironing surface.

' 3. In combination, an electric iron including a sole havingan ironing surface and formed with a nose, a bracket anchored. to said sole at one side of said nose, a miller plate slidably mounted on said bracketand conformingin shape tothe shape of said nose and in close contact therewith adjacent an edge of said ironing surface, said ruflier plate being positioned atone side of said nose, said rufller plate having an edge that is adapted to be disposed beneath said ironing surface, cam means carried by said bracket and engaging said ruiiler plate, and an operating member for causing rotation of said cam means to raise and lower said ruiiier plate. H

4. In combination, an iron having an ironing surface defined by two side edges, one of said side edges being unencumbered to permit of en- 'gagement of said edge with'the work, and a rumer plate carried at the other side edge and having an edge disposed beneath the plane of said ironing surface, said ironing surface being tilted with respect to the work when said unencumbered edge and said plate edge engage the work whereby a gathering receiving space is provided between said ironing surface, ruliler plate andthe work.

5. Incombination, an iron formed wlth a nose and having anv ironing surface defined by two side edges which meet at said nose, one of said side edges being unencumbered to providefor its plane of said ironing surface and adapted to engage the work simultaneously with said engagement of the work by said edge of the ironing surface whereby said ironing surface is tilted with respect to the work and a gathering receiving space is provided between said ironing surface, ruiiler plate, and the work.

THOMAS W. SHAW. 

